Salt Traders Face Losses as Myanmar's Mon State Prices Plunge

Salt traders in Myanmar’s Mon State are losing as raw salt prices halved from last year. Wholesale prices for raw salt have hovered around 500 kyats per viss (1.63 kg) since August—down from a record 1,100 kyats per viss in 2025. Traders who bought stock during the summer at 550 kyats per viss, expecting a seasonal price hike in September and October, are now incurring losses. Prices currently cover production costs, but Thanbyuzayat salt farmers fear further drops. Producers must clear existing warehouse stocks within the next two to three months to make room for the upcoming harvest, which begins in mid-October. Mon State's salt industry, a traditional coastal economic mainstay, has suffered widespread contraction since the 2021 military coup amid soaring fuel prices, skilled labor shortages, and rising operational costs.